A proclamation dealing with lake levels was signed by the Lincoln County Board of Commissioners at a called meeting held Thursday, August 27, in the commissioners' chambers at the courthouse.

The proclamation was authorized at the request of Tommy Lee and "Save Our Lakes NOW," an organization comprised of citizens from both sides of the Savannah River who are concerned with the management of Clark's Hill Lake, Lake Thurmond, and Lake Hartwell.

An excerpt from the proclamation is as follows: "Whereas, Lincoln County, Georgia, hereby proclaims its total support for the United States Army Corps of Engineers immediately going to 3,600 cubic-feet-persecond (cfs) releases from J. Strom Thurmond Lake and remaining there until the lake is full; and

"Whereas, Lincoln County also agrees that when the lake falls to 328 feet above mean sea level (msl), releases should immediately return to 3,600 cfs until it is full again. (Full pool for Clark's Hill Lake is 330 feet msl.)

"Therefore, be it resolved that Lincoln County further proclaims its total support for 3,100 cubic-feetper second releases from October through February each year."

According to Commission Chairman Wade Johnson, the citizens' advocacy group is in the process of obtaining signed proclamations from all counties that are stakeholders in the lake.

"The group wants to add our proclamation to others to show support for discontinuing releasing water at 4,000 cubic feet per second when everybody else is satisfied with 3,600 cubic feet per second," said the chairman. "The people downstream say that 3,600 cubic feet per second is not a problem."

Johnson went on to add, "If we can help in any way (by signing the proclamation), we should — it will benefit Lincoln County."

(In a news release issued Monday, August 31, Jerry Clontz, a spokesman for Save Our Lakes NOW, said, "Beginning Saturday, the corps went back to a release rate of 3,600 cubic feet per second. However, we are a foot lower right now than we would have been had the corps stayed at 3,600 as we requested, but at least this foolish waste of water has ended.

"We have no idea why the corps finally decreased the release rate, but we are certainly thankful that they did.")

In other business, the commissioners discussed awarding bids for a new ambulance, a portion of which will be funded through a $71,428.57 EMS Vehicle Replacement Grant. The program is administered by the Georgia Trauma Care Network Commission (GTCNC) under the auspices of the Georgia Department of Human Resources (DHR).

The focus of the EMS Vehicle Replacement Grants Program is sustaining and building the capacity to respond to emergency situations in rural Georgia.

Fifty-six grants of this type were awarded to rural EMS agencies throughout the state.

The local match requirements for Lincoln County were waived by the GTCNC.

During the discussion period, it was noted that the county received sealed bids on the new ambulance Tuesday, August 11, from Custom Works and Peach State Ambulance, Inc.

For various reasons, both of the companies did not meet the requirements of the bid. For example, the grant stipulates that the ambulance must be a 2010 model; Custom Works' bid was for a 2008 model and Peach State, a 2009 model.

"I think we should go through ACCG (Association County Commissioners of Georgia) so we can hopefully obtain bids from a broader area — this will give us more choices," said Chairman Johnson. "But we need to do this immediately because our contract with the Georgia Department of Human Resources ends on November 15."

The commission then voted to send out a new RFP (Request for Proposal) for a 2010 ambulance to include a stretcher and LED (Light Emitting Diode) lights.

"Although these are more expensive than halogen lights, they will make the body of the ambulance cooler and last a lot longer," said the chairman.

In further business, the commission:

.. Voted to send out invitations to bid on providing pest control services for all county buildings. The RFP runs from July 1 through June 30.

The invitation to bid will be advertised in The Lincoln Journal and appear on the county's website at www.lincolncountyga.com.

.. Voted to hire Robert "Chigger" Wilkes, county surveyor, to survey the county's 40-acre soil pit on Rowland-York Road at a cost not to exceed $750. Once the survey is completed, "No Trespassing" signs will be posted at the site.

"We really don't know where the soil pit stops or starts," said Chairman Johnson. "Half is forested and half is a dug-out pit.

"Since the surrounding land is leased out to hunters, we don't want a hunter on county property or a city or county employee getting hurt. Right now, there's nothing there to let people know its county property and they're not to trespass."

.. Was informed by Chairman Johnson that there is a chance that the rates for employee health insurance will increase by $12 per employee per month.

The next regular meeting of the board of commissioners will be held Thursday, September 10, at 6 p.m. in the courtroom on the second floor of the courthouse.